Variable-speed top



Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to spinning tops and particularly to tops with variable surface coloration and/or tone.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a synchronous variation in the speed of the spinning top duringacceleration and `decelerati'on.

Another object of the invention is to provide a top which will rise from a position of rest on its outer shell, which will accelerate, decelerate, and return to rest during the spinning cycle.

Still another object of the invention is to utilize the spinning motion of the top to induce changes in and to modulate the speed of rotation of the top.

A further object of the invention is to simultaneously induce rotation and angular velocity modulation in the top.

Other objects of the invention include the utilization of changes in angular velocity of the topV to induce changes in the appearance `of the surface coloration and/or changes in tone or tones produced during the spinning of the top.

In my application for Letters Patent, Serial Number 196,466, filed November 18, 1950, I disclosed a spinning top comprising the combination of an outer shell consisting of upper and lower hollow cup shaped members, said members being secured together at their peripheral edges, means within said outer shell for rotating the top, rotatable members engaged with the rotating means and balanced in respect to the axis of the top, a counterpoise near the periphery of each rotatable member, and an inertia member engaged -`with the rotating means and rotatable about the :axis of the top. The rotatable members were in a iplane perpendicular to the axis of the top.

In the present invention 'the rotatable members are in a plane coincident with the axis of the top. Y y

In the accompanying drawings'which form a ipa-rt of the specification and wherein reference symbols refer to likeparts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a vertical, sectional View of one embodiment of the vpresent invention, and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially :along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the outer shell of the top consists of upper and lower cup shaped members Ill and I2, respectively, secured together at their abutting peripheral edges I4. The spring motor I6 is secured to the 'upper shell member I by brackets I8 and directly connected with axial shaft 20. The knob 22 engages the -end of shaft 2U during the winding of motor I6. Withdrawing pressure from knob 22 operates release 24 and starts the action of wound motor I6.

Worm gear 26, an integral part of axial shaft 20, engages gears 28 and 30 which are located in a plane coincident with axial shaft 20 and balanced in respect to the axis of the top. Counterpoises 32 and 34 are attached to or made an integral part of gears 28 and 30, respectively. Gears 28 and 30 are held in position by support 36 attached to the upper shell member I0 by brackets 38.` Inertia member 4I) is energized by motor I6 through direct attachment to shaft 20.

I'he exterior of the outer shell `members I Il and I2 are pigmented in areas indicated schematically by 42 and 44 for producing apparent vcolor changes during the spinning of the top. Apertures in the lower shell member I2 represented by apertures 46 are provided for sound production during the spinning of the tcp.

lIn the operation of the top shown in Fig. 1 Iand Fig. 2 the spring motor I6 is wound by knob 22 while the latter is depressed to engage the end of axial shaft 20. The engagement of rea lease 24 continues during winding and thereafter the raisingof knob 22disengages the reg' lease 24 and starts the operation of motor I6. The top is placed on its side so that it rests on lower shell I2. As motor I Bystarts, shaft 2li,` gears 28 and 30, and inertia member 4I) start to rotate. However, since the axial shaft 2U is not connected to either of the shell members I0 and I2, the shell of the top does not move appreciably until the acceleration of inertia member 40 is sufficient to cause the axis of the top through shaft 20 to assume a substantially vertical position.

As the axis of the top assumes such substantially vertical position, the reaction of motor I6 yon upper shell member I0 to which it is attached by bracket I8 is such as to cause the outer shell of the top to revolve in the ydirection opposite to the direction of revolution of inertia member 40. The average speed of rotation of the outerl shell of the top will approximate that of the speed of rotation of inertia member 40.

Upon acceleration of the outer shell of the top to the speed for tone production and the critical speed for color change, the effect of the operation of counterpoises 32 and 34 is such as to produce continuous rhythmic undulation in the speed of rotation of the shell which results in corresponding changes in tone and color from apertures 46 and pigmented areas 42 land 44, respectively.

The shell of the top may be of any suitable configuration such as upper and lower rhollow cup shaped members secured together at their abutting peripheral edges.

The lexterior of the shell may be pigmented in whole or in part so that movement of the pigmented areas above a critical speed will result in the optical effect of producing Icolors other than that of the pigments used. Converselyl the original colors will seemto reappear as the speed of any zone on the exterior of the top falls below the critical speed.

The top may be provided with conventional tone producing means, such as a series of apertures or a series of apertures with reeds associated therewith.

Although both the tone producing means and 'maximum peripheral speed `is reached followed by a general deceleration until the top stops spinning. However, in the present invention, there is a rhythmic undulation in the peripheral speed of the top throughout the periods of general acceleration and deceleration with a corresponding rhythmic change in color and/or tone.

As the spiral gear, which is an integral part of the axial shaft, drives the rotatable gear members, the counterpoises on such members move toward the periphery of the top and then move toward itsaxis wherein the shaft is located, and so on through the complete spinning cycle. Thus, there is a series of short periods oi.' rhythmic acceleration and deceleration corresponding lto the time for the counterpoises to make one revolution about the axis of the respective rotatable gear members.

As the pigmented areas on the shell of the top move to the critical speed, the colors blend and unblend as the areas move just above and just below such speed during the short periods of rhythmic acceleration and deceleration. These color changes will then move successively from the periphery toward the center of the shell of the top during the period of general acceleration and the reverse during general deceleration. A centrifugal governor device may be engaged with le axial shaft in order to arrest the acceleration to the desired extent and to maintain the rhythmic undulations with a substantially constant average speed of the rotating shell.

Any suitable means may be used to supply the energy or means for transmission of energy to actuate the top, such as a spring wound motor. In any event the power is applied to an axial shaft and a worm gear which may be an integral part of the shaft. The worm gear engages two rotatable gear members which are in a plane coincident with the axis of .the top and which are balanced in respect to the axis of the top.. A counterpoise is attached to or may be made an integral part of each such rotatable member.

The inertia member attached to and revolving about the axial shaft serves as a medium for the transfer of energy from the relatively light motor, causes the top to rise from a reclining to vertical position, and serves as a stabilizer both in respect to the entire spinning cycle and the intermediate rhythmic undulations which produce the pleasing optical and tonal eiects. The weight of this inertia element with its relatively heavy periphery may vary depending upon the eifect which is to be produced, preferably being of the grder of about one-half the total weight of the The foregoing description has disclosed a further improvement in a novel combination of elements wherein the kinetic `energy of the rotating counterpoises is utilized to vary the speed of the shell of the top, the varying speed causing the production of undulated color and tonal eiects.

I claim:

l. In a spinning top, the `combination of (a) an outer shell consisting of upper and lower hollow cup shaped members, said shell members being secured together at their peripheral edges, (b) means within said outer shell for rotating said top, (c) rotatable members in a plane coincident with the axis of said top engaged with said rotating means and balanced in respect to the axis of said top, (d) a counterpoise near the periphery of each rotatable member, and (e) an inertia member engaged with said rotating means and rotatable about the axis of ysaid top.

2. A spinning top, the combination of (a) an outer shell consisting of upper and lower hollow cup shaped memberasaid shell members being secured together at their peripheral edges, (b) pigmented areas on the exterior of said shell for producing undulating color changes during the spinning of said top, (c) means within said outer shell for rotating said top, (d) rotatable members in a plane coincident with the axis of said top engaged with said rotating means and balanced in respect to the axis of said top, (c) a counterpoise near the periphery of each rotatable member, and (f) an inertia member engagedV with rotating means and rotatable about the axis of said top. l

3. In a spinning top, the combination of (a) an outer shell consisting of 'upper and lower hollow cup shaped members, said members being secured together at their peripheral edges, (b) means associated with said outer shell for producing undulating musical notes during the spinning oi said top, (c) means within said outer shell for rotating said top, (d') rotatable members in a plane coincident with the axis of said top engaged with said rotating means and balanced in respect to the -ax'is of said top, (e) a counterpoise near the periphery of each rotatable member, and (f) an inertia member engaged with said rotating means and rotatable about the axis of said top.

4. In a spinning top, the combination of (a) an outer shell consisting of upper and lower hollow cup shaped members, said members being secured together at their peripheral edges, (b) pigmented areas on the exterior of said shell for producing undulating color changes during the spinning of said top, (c) means associated kwith said outer shell for producing undulating musical notes during the spinning of said top, (d) means within said outer shell for rotating said top, (e) rotatable members in a plane coincident withthe axis of said Vtop engaged with said rotating means and balanced in respect to the axis of said top, (f) a ccunterpoise near the periphery of each rotatable member, and (g) an inertia member engaged with said rotating means and rotatable about the axis of said top.

CARL J. GREEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are vof record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 229,218 Wier June 22, 1880 335,843 Richardson Feb. 9, 1886 430,521 Gee June 17, 1890 1,016,960 Sapper Feb. 13, 1912 1,098,895 Edgar ----l. June 2, 1914` 

